Here's The Skinny
A joint FDA advisory committee voted 11-3 to recommend approval of over-the-counter sales of a weight-loss pill now sold only with a prescription late Monday following a daylong hearing. If approved, Orlistat would be the first weight-loss drug sanctioned for over-the-counter sales. (Source)
Well isn't this a great idea! It's not like there's a growing epidemic of young women starving themselves in an attempt to emulate the skeletal Hollywood starlets the media dictates they should idolize.
"There is no magic pill for weight loss and Orlistat is not a magic pill. Orlistat is a tool that will help people control their calorie intake and modify their diet," said John Dent, the pharmaceutical company's senior vice president of research and development.
A pill to help control calorie intake and modify their diet? Oh goodie! No need for to eat sensibly anymore or bother wasting time exercising.
No wonder the pharmaceutical industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Isn't it a shame that money and research couldn't be applied to areas that desperately need it? Oh say, like a cure for AIDS or Cancer?
17 comments:
You are so right! Look at Lindsey Lohan (did I get that right?) She was so pretty, and CURVY! Now she looks like a damn skeleton.
Yeap... couldn't agree with you more!
Hi, Sar. Or Emperor Sar.
There are a lot of people on the other side of the spectrum. Isn't it a branch of celebrity worship that when we think of weight loss, we think of emaciated actresses as opposed to people dying of 400-poundedness living in a trailer or a house in Santa Clarita?
Hi,
Boy that picture on your post
makes me almost sick!
A woman needs some curves.....
Marie
The key to successful weight loss is re-educating ones eating habits. Wonder if that will ever receive the media's attention?
Overeating coupled with excessive weight loss = pathological eating disorder.
On behalf of our absent regular host, Mike, greetings everyone!
Kat - You got that right. She was a beautiful, voluptuous young woman. Such a shame.
Shayna - Thank you ma'am.
Doug - I'm not sure in all cases I'd call it celebrity worship; media saturation perhaps. But I see your point, and you're right, there is a viable and appropriate market for this drug IF used appropriately. I'm just concerned about the potential ease of escalating weight loss abuse should it become available OTC.
Maria - I agree. They literally look like twigs that are about to snap.
Nedhead - Yes, when you remove Hollywood starlets and their influence from the equation, yes you've got a good point there.
Karen - Very true. That's the message taught to kids in school, but unfortunately not so much to the adults who actually buy and make the food.
Shea - Yes and sadly the pharmaceutical industry only sees that through dollar signs in their eyes.
Have you seen some of the side effects of this drug? They remind me of the old SNL gag called Super Colon Blow. It was a cereal that made you...no, I think I'll spare you those details.
Sar, as usual, right on the money.
Oh my God! Whyever a girl would aspire to those two depicted is beyond my comprehension. There is no beauty left, I feel only pity!*I am gonna have a peanut butter sandwich right now! and I will feel so good about it;)*
It began with Twiggy and....spent so much time starving myself with the approval of society that I was left with no body image
Nine years ago I did one of those well I'll lose ten extra pound things so that I could have ten pounds to play with. Stops working that way after 40 but how was I supposed to know? It had always worked before
Now I am losing weight so slowly that it seems like I'm at a plateau, but for the first time it's not just a vanity issue but could be a health one if....
Why does Doug always have to be our social conciensce? Probably the only would be red if the government wasn't so sick person I know, is always the person who delves into the real issue
The reality is that there are twelve year olds with type two diabetes; of course all the kids I know are too too skinny and worry about gaining weight when they get older.
They hear it from us so it's our problem, and damn it, I just wrote a whole post
I have to disagree with this drug being "over the counter." This sort of thing needs to be controlled by a doctor.
I agree that it should not be OTC. And that these actress are waaay tooooooo thin.
Sar,
Why worry about silly things like AIDS or Cancer when there are sooo many good (profitable) post- diagnosis protocols to go with?
Nutrition? What a Midevil, Dark Age idea.
sar- But won't those girls be soooo disappointed when Orlistat doesn't give them those same sexy bloodshot eyes and perpetually runny noses that Kate Moss and other paper-thin celebs have?
I agree with you, Sar. I'm presently thinking about those pharmacists who are morally opposed to dispensing certain drugs for women--how would they feel about normal teenaged girls getting their hands on this stuff--any concern for girls' health?
It's sad that attitudes about women's bodies haven't changed.
Greetings all! Apologies for the delay in my response and continued thanks for your visit.
Poobah - That only further supports my question...why?! And thanks for the support. :)
Monika - I don't get it either. Aren't women supposed to be, well womanly? I mean otherwise they're, well manly.
Pia - That Doug is always speaking up. Or is it out? But you have a good point as well, and I'm thrilled you came by to make it.
TLP - I agree. There's just too much danger in potential abuse to outweigh the justification for going OTC. But apparently dollars not common sense prevails in Pharmecuticals.
3D - They are not much more than skin & bones. It's not attractive and it's not at all healthy.
AJ - Nice display of sarcasm! In case you didn't already know, I'm a fan of it.
TLM - Hahaha! You already know how much I appreciate a good sarcastic comment, and I appreciated that one.
Actonbell - What a fantastic point! I'm glad you made it. Really, those pharmaceutical zealots should be up in arms over this.
CD - No, sadly it wasn't. Hopefully it won't receive full FDA approval for OTC. *fingers crossed*
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